Braised Pork with Turnips
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
- 1 tablespoon butter (or more oil)
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder or loin, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 1 1/2 pounds purple-topped turnips or rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 3/4 cup white wine, chicken stock, or water
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh lovage, celery leaves, or parsley (optional)
- Put a 12-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat and let sit for at least a minute.
- Add the oil and butter.
- When the butter foam subsides or the oil is hot, add the pork, a few chunks at a time.
- When it is all in the skillet, turn the heat to high.
- Cook for about 5 minutes, undisturbed, until the pork is nicely browned on one side.
- Turn each piece, return the heat to medium-high, and cook for about 3 minutes more.
- Add the turnip chunks and shake the skillet so that the pork and turnips are all sitting in one layer or nearly so.
- Cook for another 3 or 4 minutes, or until the turnips begin to brown.
- Add the liquid and stir once or twice.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and half the lovage if youre using it, turn the heat to medium-low, and cover the skillet.
- Cook, stirring every 10 minutes, until both pork and turnips are quite tender, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover and raise the heat to medium-high; boil the liquid until it is reduced to a syrupy glaze.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary, then garnish with the remaining herb if you like and serve.
- Creamy Pork with Turnips: In the final step, transfer the pork and turnips to a warm platter.
- Do not quite reduce the liquid to a glaze; when there is about 1/2 cup left, reduce the heat to low, stir in 1 cup sour or sweet cream, and slowly bring back to a boil over medium heat.
- Stir the pork and turnips back into the sauce, garnish, and serve, preferably over rice.
- Pork and Turnips with Mustard: You can do this in combination with the preceding variation if you like.
- Stir 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, or more to taste, into the finished sauce.
- Heat through and serve.
neutral oil, butter, pork shoulder, purple, white wine, salt, fresh lovage
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/braised-pork-with-turnips-386711 (may not work)